A few favourite hearts ---

Happy Valentine's Day.   These are a few of 

my fav needlework hearts.

Link here for details

Link here for details

Details here

 

Porter Co Fair: Part Three

Category V - Needlecraft

Section 506 - Counted Thread Work

f.  Counted Cross Stitch - Other (not suitable for framing)

The Drawn Thread

Pumpkin Keeper

Pincushion + fob set

used JABC pins + Gingher Lendell scissors

to make them pretty!

Comment Card:  "beautifully

executed

excellent assembly

lovely tension"

506 i.  Other:

A Sampler Pinkeep

The Heart's Content

Comment Card: "Beautifully done

cute finishing

Section 507 - Miscellaneous Needlecraft

a. Combination of Techniques:

Satin Heart

The Victoria Sampler

Comment Card:  "beautiful piece

lovely finishing

nice accented w/

beads + charm

lovely tension"

b. Needlepunch:

Halloween Hang Ups 2

Lizzie Kate

Comment Card:

"cute design

try rearranging

finish stitches so

edges are straight"

(good point by judge)

c. Other

Mom's Butterfly

tatted edge on material paper

(I gave this to my MIL on Sunday afternoon)

comment card

Best of luck to the NANI members who are entering

the Lake Co Fair!!!   

Lake Co Fair (continued)

Needlecraft II
Counted Cross Misc - Miniature Item

A Sampler Pinkeep
c.2002 The Heart's Content, Inc.
Maureen Appleton

This is stitched over one thread (miniature stitching).
I used dyed ribbon from Pat Winter to edge this itty bitty pinkeep.


Needlecraft II
Counted Cross Misc - Pillow

Forest Song
Designed by Elizabeth Foster
c.2000 Elizabeth's Designs

I used suggested fibers on 25-count raw linen by Zweigart
(the green leaves are stitched with Sheep's Silk,
Dark Moss, The Thread Gatherer
The fiber & charm were with the pattern.


Needlecraft II
Counted Cross Misc - Not Specified Above

Herbal Sachet
Lavender; Loyalty & Devotion
The Victoria Sampler
c.2002 Thea Dueck

Front: 62H x 40W. 28ct Antique White Cashel Linen. Kreinik #4 Braid #002; DMC #12 White Perle Cotton; AVAS #1343 (purple); DMC Floss 210, 501, 502, 3813, blanc, 208; Mill Hill beads; Needle Necessities #178 Coventry Gardens.

Lake Co Fair

Handicrafts I
Christmas Ornament - Counted Cross Stitch

The Victoria Sampler
Level Three - Satin Stitch
The Learning Collection
c.2000 Thea Dueck


Handicrafts I
Fabric -
Soft Sculpture Figure

~*My Favorite Kitten*~ Pinkeep
c ~~primitivebettys~~ / Betty Dekat

I used DMC floss (3721, 3021, 926, 221, 422, 413, 3051) on 32-ct linen
I changed the cross to a heart at the neck, otherwise followed pattern

some finishing going on ...

The Victoria Sampler
Level Three - Satin Stitch
The Learning Collection
c.2000 Thea Dueck

I used some beautiful dyed ribbon from Pat Winter. The color perfect & I thought it turned out well.

These heart shapes are such a challenge for me. After I put the front & back together - the ribbon was gathered & stitched into place.

If you are interested in Pat's ribbons, check out her
Etsy or
Artfire on-line shops.

Her products are top notch & the ribbons are fantastic.
The best ribbons I've ever used.


A Sampler Pinkeep
c.2002 The Heart's Content, Inc.
Maureen Appleton

This is stitched over one thread (miniature stitching). Again, I used dyed ribbon from Pat Winter to edge this itty bitty pinkeep.

A special thx to Cathy B blogging at
With Needle & Thread
for sending me an e-mail (back in 2009) explaining
how she makes pinkeeps! Came in handy today.

The ribbon that was with this kit didn't really match the fiber color. I was delighted at how easy this ribbon was to work with.

The biggest challenge was ending the ribbon - trying to make it look good. Oh well, did the best I could.

Porter Co Fair (4 of 4) Results

Section 105 -- Toys
a. Stuffed

~*My Favorite Kitten*~ Pinkeep
c ~~primitivebettys~~ / Betty Dekat

I used DMC floss (3721, 3021, 926, 221, 422, 413, 3051) on 32-ct linen
I changed the cross to a heart at the neck, otherwise followed pattern

Comments by Judge: "Very nicely done. Good edge finish. Nice color choices"

Section 507 -- Miscellaneous Needlecraft
a. Combination of Techniques

Herbal Sachet
Lavender; Loyalty & Devotion
The Victoria Sampler
c.2002 Thea Dueck

Front: 62H x 40W. 28ct Antique White Cashel Linen. Kreinik #4 Braid #002; DMC #12 White Perle Cotton; AVAS #1343 (purple); DMC Floss 210, 501, 502, 3813, blanc, 208; Mill Hill beads; Needle Necessities #178 Coventry Gardens.

back: cross stitch & bumble bee charm

Comments by Judge: "attractive bag. delicate handiwork."


Section 101 -- Special Occasion (any Holiday, Special Event)
b. Tree Ornament

Pear Tree
pattern from the 2006 JCS Orn magazine
designed by Diane Williams of Little House Needleworks

I used 32-count Confed Grey Linen with Dried Thyme + Nutmeg (GAST), Amber (WDW), #341 & #375 Anchor floss. The 'pot' is a variation of a freebie from the Workbasket web site

Comments by Judge: "Very nicely done. Good color choices, nice details"

Satin Stitch

cDesign by Thea DueckBeyond Cross Stitch, Learning Collection

This is a lovely kit -- and I used fibers from the kit & my own stash -- dug out some beads, too. Here is the heart with a few changes : ) I used: DMC perle #8 225 & 223; DMC perle #12 white; DMC floss #814; Kreinik Silk Mori 4206; Mill Hill petite beads #40479 and #42042; Kreinik #4 Braid #002 - metallic gold; butterfly charm from kit. Stitched on 25ct white Lugana.

Satin Stitch - Heart Kit

Boo! Happy Halloween!This lovely heart (first photo) is another kit from The Victoria Sampler. It was given to me by a NANI friend. I spent a good deal of time locating the charm & beads for this one. As it was an 'in the car' project - I took out the charm/bead pkg & put it 'someplace' where it would not be 'lost'. Yeah -- what a fossil. Took me awhile to unearth the pkg!!! Later this afternoon, I plan to stitch the rest of it.

This is a kit I stitched up a few years back & finished into a heart ornament. It is Assisi Embroidery. I plan to finish the Satin Stitch heart (first photo) in the same way. As I recall, it was a doorprize at an EGA chapter event. These are nice kits as there are different fibers included & ENOUGH fibers included ... you know what I mean? Dreadful to run out of ingredients when you purchase a kit.

I started this kit at the Dentist's office waiting room ... & thought I might finish it up this week. I love the title of these hearts "Beyond Cross Stitch" as they sprinkle in specialty stitches. I'm really tired of the 'x' right now. I in the mood for other kinds of stitching.
Before you ask ... the threadwinders are from House of Stitches . They come in boxes of six & I couldn't resist purchasing the butterfly design [several designs available]. I have a thing for threadwinders. And, as always, click on the photo to enlarge [for those readers not familiar with blogging]

Lavender Sachet / Back side ...

Thx to everybody for your kind e-mails and comments. I wish some of my non-blogging stitching friends would take the plunge & try their hands at blogs!! For me, it is a good record of my stitching. This is what the back of the kit looks like -- cute with the charm!!! I opted to use the left over dk purple for the lettering & changed the style.

This is a close-up of the back.
The lettering is from an alphabet book by Marsha Van Valin More Alphabets from Early Samplers

Rhodes Stitch [front of sachet]

thanks for your e-mail. This is a close-up of the 'hearts', called Rhodes heart. IMO, the diagram which came with the kit was easy to follow.

Herbal Sachet Kit

Lavender; Loyalty & DevotionThe Victoria Samplerc.2002 Thea Dueck
Front: 62H x 40W. 28ct Antique White Cashel Linen. Kreinik #4 Braid #002; DMC #12 White Perle Cotton; AVAS #1343 (purple); DMC Floss 210, 501, 502, 3813, blanc, 208; Mill Hill beads; Needle Necessities #178 Coventry Gardens. Back: Should finish tomorrow -- has cross stitch & a cute bumble bee charm!

WIP

So pretty!

Congrats to Kay O [no blog!] for finishing her Drawn Thread Game Board Sampler!! And, I hear she may start the Acorn Sampler Afghan soon. Go Kay : )

tired of the "x"?

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy needlework ... I'm just weary of the sampler I've been working on. All cross stitch. Just another x. Maybe a floss change. Soon some Palestrina Knots ... but the x , x , x .... is it just me? Does anybody else tire of the same ol 'x'??? I had to pull out something else. This wonderful Herbal Sachet kit uses cotton floss, perle cotton, silk, metallic -- some beads -- and a break from the 'x' ... some specialty stitches.
Such a nice kit. Keeps my stitching area tidy : )